Last minute class added!!

Hi everyone.  Just popping on to let you know that I've just agreed to do a class at The Craft Barn on Sunday 2nd November which will be a re-run of the class that wasn't able to go ahead in September.

In this class we'll be playing around with Distress inkpads, stencils, Sparkle Medium along with some Lavinia Stamps.

This will be my last class at The Craft Barn before I hibernate for winter - lol!!!

If anyone is interested please click here to be taken to The Craft Barn's website for more details :).

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Chameleon pens

Today I thought I'd share my thoughts with you about the new innovative Chameleon pens that launched on C&C a couple of weeks ago.

As I think we all know I absolutely love my Copic markers and more recently have become a fan of the Spectrum Noir range too. When I saw the Chameleon pens (being that they are alcohol based) I was definitely interested in trying them out especially as you can get SO many tones just from one pen!!!

Below is my VERY first go with them.

The background was done with Distress inkpads but all the actual colouring of the snowmen was achieved with the Chameleon pens and nothing else. For anyone that struggles with the normal blending process using three or four corresponding markers then these pens are most definitely for you as they really do provide a seamless blend. Plus they will work along side other alcohol based markers and of course you can use pencils over the top of these too.

To be fair there is a bit of a learning curve with them, learning how long to fuse them for and getting the hang of colouring in either a side to side movement or little circles as opposed to flicking or feathering (which was always my preferred method) but it really doesn't take long to adapt to this way of colouring. Also I am not a 'great' colourist - there are people out there who are just amazing at colouring and I'm not one of them!!  I would say that I am a 'middle of the road' sort of colourer so if I can do it from following the demos on telly anyone can!!!

So far I have only had a very quick go with the complete set that I bought but I am really looking forward to trying out different images with them and having a good play!!

I am thinking about running some classes (from my home) using these pens for anyone that is interested in having a go with them so if anyone is interested in this please do email me.

Spectrum Noir pencils

I have had the priviledge of being able to play around with Spectrum Noir pencils since they were released earlier this year and I can honestly say that I absolutely love them!!! The pigment within the pencils is really rich and you are able to achieve a wonderful smooth blend with these gorgeous wax based pencils.  My current favourite way of colouring is to colour with my Spectrum Noir pens first and then add more depth and dimension to the image with the pencils.

However the pencils create great results on their own too.  This is one of the cards that I created for a class that I taught at The Craft Barn last month using the pencils onto textured Core-dinations cardstock. Even though I was colouring onto green textured card you are still able to achieve a rich vibrant result with them - this was created just using the pencils on their own without blending solution.  The white accents on the flowers are from a white gel pen.

Currently there is a fantastic Four Day Deal on Create and Craft where you can buy the whole set of these pencils (all 5 sets) at a ridiculous price. Do tune is as Leann has been showing some different techniques with them and I for one am definitely going to try the technique with the gesso as I just loved that!!

Below is a photo showing the difference the pencils can make when using them over alcohol markers.  The panda's hat on the right was coloured very roughly with my pink Spectrum Noir markers and the panda's hat on the left shows not only how you can smooth out your colouring by adding pink pencils over the top but also how much depth you can achieve to your colouring.  And yes you can use these pencils over the top of any alcohol marker :).

 

So if any of you have been thinking about giving the Spectrum Noir pencils a go and haven't dipped your toe into the water this deal is most definitely worth checking out!!  I honestly and truly absolutely LOVE mine :).

New classes just added

Oh goodness I cannot believe it has been so long since I last posted anything!!  The days just keep whipping by and nowadays I find it quicker just to pop something on Facebook so my poor blog has become a bit neglected!!  I'll try to do better!!

This morning I have been busy updating my Classes/Demos page both with classes at stores as well as a couple of Christmas based classes that I will be running from home until December 10th.

Here's some pics of them -

This first one is a class that I'll be doing this Saturday at The Glitter Pot where we will be combining Sparkle Medium and stencils with stamping and colouring.

Then in November I am back again at The Glitter Pot with A Traditional Copic Christmas.  Below is one of the cards we will be creating in this class.

And lastly from now until December 10th 2014 I'll be running a couple of Christmas card classes from home concentrating on how to colour combining Spectrum Noir pens and pencils.

 

 

If you click on my Classes/Demos tab you can find out more about all of them.